It's certainly not 'fair' in that sense but it's a function of the cycling fan base, which are mainly men. Same applies to football, cricket, etc.

And why is that do you reckon? Could it have anything to do with the fact that women's sports are treated like second class when it comes to marketing and coverage? Or are women just fundamentally worse athletes that's just not worth paying as much attention to, aside from the occasional sexual remark in the comments section of a youtube video?

Actually I think it is now, the last 6 months has changed a lot in the sport, I think there is a real groundswell of support from the fans and amongst at least some of the teams to cut the cancer out of the sport.
Previously naming names would have brought a polite applause then everybody would have waved the whistkleblower away as she faded into oblivion.
Now I think actually revealing the truth would probably strengthen her future prospects to be associated with sport.
I also think now is the time Millar named names.

And why is that do you reckon? Could it have anything to do with the fact that women's sports are treated like second class when it comes to marketing and coverage?

Talking about this at work a few weeks ago. The big sports fans in the office just want to watch the best/fastest/strongest. That normally implies male sportsmen to them. And as men are predominantly the spectators I suppose that decides the marketing and coverage to some extent.

I'm not sure, I can't work it out. The womens cycling at the Olympics was epic, but I have to admit there's not much womens sport I watch (not that I get to watch much anyway...).

Catch 22 - if no-one is watching then no sponsors will pay good money and nobody will broadcast it, hence no-one gets to see it.

It's sad that she's retired with this background, but hardly surprising.

You have to ask yourself why anyone who has always been clean wouldn't speak out. It has obviously be eating her up inside, and would do to anyone who has been cheated out of their achievements. So why do so many supposedly clean riders not speak out?

In the culture of cynicism and mistrust caused by all dopers / match fixers etc, there are so many innuendos and strange happenings that it is so difficult to know what may be motivating people.

For example, can any minnow team now beat Pakistan in a cricket match without questions being asked. Can anyone put in a truly great performance on a bike without coming under suspicion?

Armstrong et al have pissed all over the sport that made them - and continue to do so.

And why is that do you reckon? Could it have anything to do with the fact that women's sports are treated like second class when it comes to marketing and coverage? Or are women just fundamentally worse athletes that's just not worth paying as much attention to, aside from the occasional sexual remark in the comments section of a youtube video?

No. It's that men spend more money on watching sport and buying sports-related gear. Football, cycling, rugby, cricket, golf - they are all watched (and therefore funded) primarily by men. Not entirely, obviously, but the vast majority of interest and income comes from men.

A great rider who achieved much in an era when British Cycling ignored women and now too wild a spirit to work with them. Without that spirit and attitude though she wouldn't have achieved half of what she did.

have just read her statement.definitely a well thought out/thought provoking statement.was shocked (sadly not surprised though),that women don't get a minimum wage (or anything else it seems) that the men's professional cycling teams have.

she is one of the greatest cyclists regardless of gender,and she can leave with her head held high. oh and as for the lance/drug cheats comments,cannot agree more with her

She successfully sued 4 teams for unpaid wages. I wonder where that rumour came from?

And Lizzie - if you want to contest the sprint, try not to fall off...

I have always admired her because I bet she is an utter pain in the arse to race against, if shes like that a bit in real life, I can deal with it because winning the Olympics and Worlds in the same year was a huge step change in GB cycling success. And she did a lot of it on her own, I expect because she is 'difficult'...

its an interesting statement for sure, Hamilton may well have a big bank balance but Cooke has an Olympic gold (Hamilton doesnt) and Cooke also has a ten year unbeaten national road race championship record from 99-09(?) to look back on (it was something like that, wiki it if you are that keen!).

she probably was a bit tough to work with, she must have been hell to ride with, the Garmin team ganged up a bit on here in 2010 and although it was all fair enough, it was a bit savage to watch but in that race where Pooley won, Cooke rode her heart out.

I wish her all the best and hope she stays in the sport becuase it needs her, this is her incredible, multi-discipline 2001 Palmares: